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The competition runs throughout the season at tracks up and down the country and has grown in popularity over the years.

We can expect a large turnout of riders due to our central location and benefit from a good network of roads leading to Leicestershire.

Last season, there were 52 riders who attended the Leicester meeting.

The British Youth Championship is seen as a feeder route to a career as a speedway rider. Many have achieved such an ambition and are now riding in the Premiership after working their way through the lower leagues.

Leicester Lions owner Damien Bates

GB manager lends valuable support

We have witnessed at first-hand the progression being made by our two mascots Dan and Joe Thompson, who were very successful in the 125cc category.

During the winter, their parents invested in new machinery and now the twins race on 250cc engines and the difference in handling more power has been a learning curve for them.

Their presence in the meeting at Leicester on Sunday will hopefully receive plenty of support from Lions fans.

The big picture is to bring these riders through to international standard one day, and while the journey is lengthy for someone who may be starting at the most junior level at around eight years of age, there is a lot of support from the Great Britain Under-21s manager Neil Vatcher, who guides the youngsters through the stages of their development.

He puts so much energy into the project and it is personally gratifying for him when they make the grade.

Sunday’s meeting, which starts at 3pm, is the sixth year that Beaumont Park has been the venue for this event and we are only too pleased to play a small part in the development of young British riders at grassroots level.